Poker is one of the most complex card games you can play. This includes different skills, studying opponents, having a quality strategy but also a talent. All these factors influence whether you are an average or excellent poker player. However, whether you are good at poker or not, there are certain things that are easy to learn, while some you have to learn through experience. For example, you can learn the rules, some basic strategies, even advanced ones, but knowing the behavior of your opponent, assessing the game well, and things like that is something that comes with experience.
Speaking of experience, you can watch numerous videos or read poker blogs, and it’ll certainly improve your skills. However, what do you think about books written by professionals and great connoisseurs of this card game? Fortunately, there are fantastic books that can certainly bring you more when it comes to advancing skills.
Quite simply, the authors of these books have translated their competing experience into written works so that others can become better poker players. If you also want to improve your poker skills, strategy and general knowledge of poker, we suggest you check out the most important poker strategy books list below. In the meantime, you can check out this website where you can find numerous gambling games including online poker. Now, if you’re ready, let’s get started.
1. Bertrand “ElkY” Grospellier: The Raiser’s Edge
One of the most interesting and currently popular poker styles is LAG or Loose Aggressive. This strategy is used by many successful players, among whom is certainly French poker player Bertrand “ElkY” Grospellier. This guy is one of the best tournament players in the world and one of the most interesting personalities, as well. In his book The Raiser’s Edge, Grospellier presented many details about the LAG strategy because he uses it.
Everyone who chooses to read The Raiser’s Edge will be able to learn more about this strategy and its implementation, especially in tournament competitions. Grospellier also explained the differences between LAG and hyper-LAG and when to implement one or the other strategy. Also, he provided some tips on how to deal with a player using this strategy. In general, this book contains a lot of instructive information and tips.
2. Dan Harrington: Harrington on Hold’em Vol. 1: Strategic Play & Vol. 2 Endgame 
Dan Harrington is a man who, we might say, has dedicated his life to poker and the study of this fantastic game. He is also a professional player and a member of the Poker Hall of Fame. Dan transferred his extensive experience to several books published. We have singled out Vol. 1 and Vol 1. of the Harrington on Hold’em series. These are Strategic Play and Endgame books that are both dedicated to tournament strategies that are still in use today. For example, he talked in detail about the M-ratios that are widely used by players.
Concerning the second book, Endgame, it focuses more on the latter stages on a tournament and covers topics such as dynamics of playing. Generally, Endgame provides readers with knowledge and strategies when the tournament has reached key stages. If you read both, we believe that you’ll certainly be able to improve your tournament strategies.
3. Jared Tendler: The Mental Game of Poker
Indeed, poker is a game that requires you to make intelligent moves, and it can often be said that in addition to the main card game, mental games are played during the tournament. The author of The Mental Game of Poker is Jared Tendler. Although this man isn’t a professional poker player (he doesn’t even play poker at all but is a mental game trainer), his book has attracted a lot of attention as one very useful for anyone who wants to improve skills.
As we mentioned, psychology has a significant place in poker and is crucial in certain segments. For example, if one player plays superbly but still loses, it can have a bad impact on his career, and the main reason for such consequences is emotions that lead to bad decisions. Therefore, in this book, Tendler introduced ways to beat yourself in some way, because that is the only way you can help yourself and find a way to deal with emotions.
4. David Sklansky: The Theory of Poker
The Theory of Poker is great the name for a poker book that should teach you the basics of this card game. This work was published 20 years ago, so some facts are no longer applicable given that the game, like all other things around us, is constantly evolving and improving.
However, some of the mathematical and logical facts and concepts presented by David Sklansky in this book are universal and can definitely be applied today. By knowing these concepts, you’ll be able to make the right decisions to win. Basically, The Theory of Poker is a book you should read because it can be considered a classic.
5. Caro’s Book of Tells: The Body Language and Psychology of Poker by Mike Caro
It’s easy to conclude from the title of the book what this work is actually about. As you can see, author Mike Caro focused on recognizing body language as one of the most important features of your opponent that can reveal his strategy and secrets. Mika Caro has literally covered all possible interactions between two players like shaking hands, sighs, eye contact, shrugs and much more, which is certainly very interesting to read.
The Body Language and Psychology of Poker is an extensive book with as much as 320 pages, but if you read it, you’ll be able to read even the smallest signs your opponent is trying to hide. In general, this book is also universal, and the knowledge you get can always be useful.
Conclusion
There is no doubt that each of the books we have presented here is extremely important to every poker player and can always bring improvement. Therefore, make sure you read all five titles.